AREA HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK / SOFTBALL

Faith Baptist opened the season last week by outscoring Sacred Heart and Pioneer Baptist by a combined 26-1 in the Westridge tournament.

Just how good are the Contenders? That question might not be answered for another month.

They play Division VI teams until April 19, when they open pool play at the highly regarded Irvine Woodbridge tournament. Faith Baptist will compete in the same pool as Marina and Dana Hills.

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Former All-Valley shortstop Cara Blumfield of El Camino Real doubled against Hawaii in her first at-bat for Boston College.

Blumfield, who led El Camino Real to the City title last season, returned to the Southland last week during a four-day break in Boston College’s schedule and watched her alma mater play in the Hart tournament.

“It’s good to be out here,” she said. “We were [practicing] indoors for three months. I needed the sun.”